Why We Need Sen. Jeff Sessions As U.S. Attorney General

With the beginning of the new year, it’s likely we’ll face many battles in the coming months against those who wish to curtail our right to keep and bear arms. And one of the first critical battles will be the fight to get President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general—U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.—confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

It’s no secret that the past eight years have been a low point for the attorney general’s office. Neither Eric Holder nor Loretta Lynch showed a bit of respect for the Second Amendment, instead choosing to vilify law-abiding gun owners. During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Sessions has been a strong leader for our Second Amendment rights.

There’s no doubt Sessions will be quite different and will bring the attorney general’s office back to one that respects law and order. Just look at his record.

During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Sessions has been a strong leader for our Second Amendment rights. Among other things, he argued for passage of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; led the charge against anti-gun Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan; voted to prohibit gun confiscation during a declared state of emergency; and opposed bans on semi-automatic modern sporting rifles—the most popular rifles in the country. He’s also a Right-to-Carry proponent who favors national reciprocity legislation.

Just as important, Sessions is an outspoken proponent of aggressive enforcement of existing laws as the answer to violent crime—not restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

“After eight long years of the Obama administration, Jeff Sessions is exactly what America needs to get violent criminals off our streets,” Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in a letter to members last week.

“Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch's politicization of the Department of Justice over the last eight years will not be reversed overnight,” Cox wrote. “But in Jeff Sessions, we can look forward to an attorney general who will focus the Department's attention on prosecuting violent criminals and getting them off our streets. He will make our cities and communities safer.”

Cox stressed how utterly important the office of attorney general is to all Americans. “After eight long years of the Obama administration, Jeff Sessions is exactly what America needs to get violent criminals off our streets.” — Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA executive director

“This position is head of both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the agencies tasked with enforcing federal gun laws,” Cox said. “Over the last 10 years, America saw a dramatic decline in the number of federal firearms convictions—by nearly 35 percent. What’s more, President Obama pardoned criminals imprisoned for gun crimes.”

Cox said Sessions has repeatedly called out anti-gun lawmakers for their hypocritical push for more restrictive gun laws while, at the same time, refusing to vigorously prosecute violent criminals.

“For decades, he has focused on the need to enforce existing laws, rather than pushing for new regulations that only affect the law-abiding,” Cox said. “He is a constitutional lawyer with a deep understanding of the law, who believes in a justice system that is fair and equitable to all Americans.”

It’s very likely that anti-gunners in the Senate will do all they can to hijack the confirmation process and defeat Sessions because they know he strongly supports our right to keep and bear arms. Yet Cox vows that the NRA and its members won’t back down from that fight.

“Sessions’ strong record in support of Second Amendment rights and his focus on prosecuting violent criminals make him the right person to serve as our next attorney general,” Cox concluded. “All Americans should support his nomination, and encourage their U.S. senators to do likewise.”

Use Your Power!

Your action is needed now to help confirm Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general of the United States! Please contact your U.S. senators and urge them to support your firearm freedoms by voting for a true defender of our right to keep and bear arms! To contact your senator,click here.